PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- It was a memorable day for outfielder Jake Fraley, who returned to the team that drafted him 77th overall in 2016, with his first appearance as a Ray coming almost 10 years later in Tuesday’s 12-1 victory over the Twins.
The lefty outfielder, who should be the go-to third man in the outfield alongside Cedric Mullins and Chandler Simpson against right-handers, raked a bases-clearing double in the third to drive in three runs.
Maybe even more impressive were the two fantastic catches he made in right field on line drives, the second being on a ball with an xBA of .970, according to Baseball Savant. The first catch caused Fraley to lose his belt, but courtesy of some friends in the nearby bullpen, he was good to go for the next inning.
“The analytics in this game and being able to have that card to put us in the right spots,” Fraley said of the second catch he made by diving headfirst for a low line drive. “I was already positioned a little bit to the line and in. After that, it was just a good read on the ball and being explosive.”
Fraley said new first base/outfield coach Corey Dickerson has had a great impact on how he views defense.
“It’s been unbelievable," Fraley said of working with Dickerson. “I’ve always enjoyed watching how hard he plays the game.
“Any time you can have a guy like that … it’s huge to be able to pick his brain. When you look at [the] outfield, the difference between an average and elite defender are very minuscule. To be able to hear the little things he was able to add to his toolbox … I can add that to mine.”
One of those tools includes something Fraley said he’s never thought of before.
“He talks a lot about bracing your core,” Fraley said. “When you’re sitting in your pre-set – whatever rhythm you like to do out there to get ready for the ball – he talks about neutralizing your spine, so getting your hips underneath you and kind of bracing your core a little bit. I’ve never heard anyone talk about that, and that’s been a huge game changer as far as that first step coming out.”
Of seeing Fraley lay out twice and come up with a big hit in his Rays debut, manager Kevin Cash said it says “a lot.”
“You want to see that early on,” Cash said. “If Jake Fraley is diving around here in game three or four of Spring Training, that sends a message to everybody that plays on the dirt and on the grass. What a day he had.
“Jake Fraley is a very complete baseball player that we’re going to work hard to make sure that we can keep on the field. He dealt with a lot of injuries last year for whatever reason, but man, he looks the part right now, and we’re happy where he’s at.”